QUEBEC CITY, Dec. 21, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. ("iA Financial Group" or the "Corporation") announced today that it has entered into an automatic share repurchase plan (the "automatic plan") under which its designated broker will repurchase the Corporation's common shares pursuant to its previously announced normal-course issuer bid ("NCIB"), which commenced on November 12, 2018.

The actual number of common shares purchased under the automatic plan, the timing of such purchases and the price at which common shares are purchased will depend upon future market conditions. The automatic plan, which has been pre-cleared by the TSX, will provide for the potential repurchase of common shares at any time, including when the Corporation ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its self-imposed trading blackout periods, insider trading rules, or otherwise. 

Upon the coming into force of the arrangement previously announced by the Corporation under which iA Financial Corporation Inc. ("iA Financial Corporation") will become a holding company as well as the parent corporation holding all outstanding common shares of the Corporation, the Corporation's normal-course issuer bid program, and the automatic plan, will be transferred to iA Financial Corporation, subject to compliance with regulatory limits and requirements. 

Forward-looking Statements 
This press release may contain statements relating to strategies used by iA Financial Group or statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "estimate", and "continue" (or the negative thereof), as well as words such as "objective" or "goal" or other similar words or expressions. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, information concerning future purchases of common shares of the Corporation under the automatic plan and the coming into force of the arrangement pursuant to which iA Financial Corporation will become a holding company as well as the parent corporation holding all outstanding common shares of the Corporation. These statements are not historical facts; they represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Although iA Financial Group believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions; level of competition and consolidation; changes in laws and regulations, including tax laws; liquidity of iA Financial Group, including the availability of financing to meet existing financial commitments on their expected maturity dates when required; accuracy of information received from counterparties and the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations; accuracy of accounting policies and actuarial methods used by iA Financial Group; and insurance risks including mortality, morbidity, longevity and policyholder behaviour including the occurrence of natural or man-made disasters, pandemic diseases and acts of terrorism.

Additional information about the material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the "Risk Management" section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year 2017 and in the "Management of Risks Associated with Financial Instruments" note to iA Financial Group's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2017, and elsewhere in iA Financial Group's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available for review at sedar.com.

The forward-looking statements in this news release reflect the Company's expectations as at the date of this press release. iA Financial Group does not undertake to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

About iA Financial Group 
Founded in 1892, iA Financial Group is one of the largest insurance and wealth management companies in Canada. It also operates in the United States. Its stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IAG.

iA Financial Group is a business name and trademark of Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

SOURCE Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

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